In case anybody is wondering - and I don't mean to imply that they would be, but in that event - I wish to confirm the fact that I'm leaving the site, and to present a few reasons here to give both me and any of the people here that I have grown fond of a sense of closure.

I'm going to force myself to be blunt here, so please don't take this with offense. I don't want anybody chancing across this to think that I'm spouting insensitive vitriol or that I'm damning them, but I do want to give a sense of understanding and to essentially unleash what I've been bottling up inside for reasons of tact for a long while now.

I've been feeling increasingly disillusioned with the large majority of the people within this community for several months now, really. However, I (with conceit, it seems in retrospect) reasoned that by leaving, I would only be adding to the problems that I've felt here which have made almost all of my recent time here rather uncomfortable, so I stayed for a lot longer than I probably should have.

I don't really want to go into it in detail because it will probably just be a barrage of insults to most people, but I do want to mention the straw that broke the metaphorical camel's back: the pseudo-intellectual arrogance that many people here seem to emanate like light from a bulb.

To put it mildly , every time another 12 year old enters the chat to tell me how much they've learned about quantum mechanics, I feel like stabbing myself in the arm. Why do people here always do this?! I've been a member of so many internet communities over the years, but I've never found anywhere else which has cultivated people who have what I can only describe as an idiosyncratic need to shove their perceived superintelligence where it isn't wanted. Even on social media sites, people are capable of respectful humility in group conversations. And when you find that you're able to have a better conversation on twitter than you are with a community of other people, you know that it's time to move on.

You can barely go five minutes in a conversation without somebody dropping in some entirely incongruous scientific fact which almost never serves any other purpose than to show off how much the person saying the information knows about the topic.

I find this to be an absolutely repugnant thing to do. Do people think that it somehow presents them positively, as though we'll all genuflect in awe of their absolutely preternatural intellect?

Consider that you're in a street in England or the United States. You're at a party, and you're sitting around a table. The other people who are at the table see you join. However, because they don't know you, they give you a disdainful glare, and start talking to one another in Mandarin, leaving you to stare in rejected confusion. Would you genuflect in awe of the fact that these people have learned one of the most complicated languages known to mankind? You are sitting at the table, desperate to join in with the conversation, feeling humiliated, stupid, disjointed and unable to contribute. It would all feel a little bit rude, and you'd feel very unwelcome.

This analogy is perfect for what happens here. Usually, things aren't quite to that extent - people usually just drop in some advanced chemistry every now and again, or mention their advanced sociology course, or something a little bit more subtle (but no less ostentatious). But there have been times in the past where people have spent hours and hours trying to 'outdo' one another's knowledge of advanced calculus, or speaking in their native languages in public chat amongst other people who are unable to respond. Doesn't this all feel a little bit petty? Catty, even?

But most of the people who enter the chat here do this. You might shrug and say that you're presenting necessary information or that you really thought people would be interested or - a personal favourite, just because it allows you to score a double hit with the pretentiousness - it "didn't seem all that advanced when I learned it." It's so painfully obvious that all of these excuses are just fatuous and false intentions, and to condescend by presenting these excuses as though to fool some epsilon-minus semi-moron who can't see the transparency of them only furthers how much I find this sort of behaviour obnoxious.

What it actually does is that it makes people look very insecure about how clever they are, as though they think that they need adulation from strangers, crave it, even, in order to feel good about themselves. It shows an inability to empathise with other people, and in particular, it shows an absolutely damning lack of humility.

There are perhaps a handful of people that I've not seen do this here. While I don't mean to use an argument from authority, I know that Aβ Pseudolonewolf and many of the other members here have either observed or been driven off by this desperate attempt to come across as a genius.

There's a difference between intelligent conversation and inserting these random facts into conversations when you could instead discuss the matter at hand in a relevant or appropriate way that does not include some pseudo-intellectual jargon.

If we're talking about space, we don't need to know that for non-rotating black holes, the photon sphere has a radius 1.5 times the Schwarzschild radius (ty wikipedia). You don't need to drop that into a conversation for no apparent reason. But it's the sort of thing that people here love to do: find some sort of tenuous connection to some advanced fact that you've either learned or quickly copy-pasted and leave everybody else in awe of your absolute magnificence. As I said, people will often try and out-do one another.

Would you do that sort of thing to somebody in real life?

I wouldn't be at all surprised if people try to psychoanalyse this post for some deeper meaning - perhaps I'm lashing out because clearly I lack your knowledge of particle physics?

Anyway, I really don't want to end on such a sour note, but this has deeply bothered me for a long time. It's not the only reason I've decided to leave - indeed, I've felt like leaving for a long time for a lot of reasons that are entirely unrelated to the site. I'll probably come back a few times over the course of the next few weeks for the sake of tying up any loose ends, and I really don't want people to think that I have some sort of grudge against them because I really don't. Most people here are great people most of the time, and I especially love how so few people here are susceptible to stone age fairy tales of dictatorial, totalitarian sky wizards and elephant-men and people with wings. But there are events and quirks that I find worthy of revile, and I find that I just don't enjoy being here any longer.

I'll probably edit my profile with my Skype name for a few weeks or so because there are a lot of people here that I really do want to stay in touch with, many of whom I consider to be some of the best people that I know or shall ever know. Alternatively, you can find me on twitter and deviantART, and I'm in the fig hunter steam group. Also, I am still extremely active with my beta testing duties, so I daresay most people reading this will see me again sometime within the reasonably near future, whether they want to or not. O.o

As I said, I do still have a few things to tie up before I go, but once done, I do doubt that I'll come back and I'll almost certainly be avoiding the chat for a while. If you like me, I hope that you will make an attempt to find me, because chances are, I like you too. And now this sounds creepy and homoerotic, so I'll stop. If you read this far, thankyou for doing so. Otherwise, tl;dr version of rant: I don't like pseudo-intellectuals, and I'm leaving. Ciao.

Edit: and after writing this, I see that Aβ Pseudolonewolf made a blog post on almost exactly this topic a few weeks ago, so now I look like I've plagiarised him. Yay!

It's been fun, Wander. I'm sad to see another member who I genuinely enjoyed the company of go, but I'm not sure what's keeping me or most other members here anymore. I hope you enjoy your time away from this place and that I can meet you again elsewhere.

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

I'll be leaving a lot of incredible people behind, though! Honestly, even with any perceived faults, it's hard to say that this is a 'bad' community in any sense of the word. Fig hunter will never run out of admirable people. Ciao, thanks and stay awesome!

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

I'll miss you Wandy ;-;. If you want my email's on my page, you can talk to me through there. I found you to be one of the few people who could be serious and intelligent, then switch to being funny and inane. Sorry FigHunter hasn't worked out for you. The site as a whole, I believe, will miss you.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Even if I did know you... well, negatively, maybe - it was nice to know such a wonderfully intelligent and an entertaining person such as yourself. It's rather paining to see you off, but I'm sure it'd be awfully necessary since your overall tolerance of this community seems to be running rather low. I hope for you to fare well, and I'll (probably) see you around, Wanderer! Best wishes!

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Negatively? Lol, was I really that unbearable? I honestly think we just got off to a terrible start, if anything. There were misunderstandings and stuff. I never had any personal vendetta against you. You've always seemed fine to me. o.O

Anyway, once again, I appreciate you commenting. Thanks for understanding.

2

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

I had wondered why you'd seemed to have disappeared recently... So you're actually leaving. I had thought you were just preoccupied or something... I'm sorry you weren't having fun any more. I probably didn't really help with those annoying titbits, ahem. Sorry about that, probably. :S I'll miss you; you were a good person to talk to and someone who was both clever and humorous. I hope we can keep in touch, maybe? Have a good rest of your life, I suppose. u_u

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

I'd like to stay in contact, too. And in truth, I have been preoccupied, but when my time away from the site wasn't negatively influencing me very much, it made me realise that I had little to stay for.

Anyway, once again, I appreciate everything you've said, even if I am terrible at showing it.

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Indeed, I much feel the same ways sometimes, especially about the intelligence thing. I will try to stay in contact with you, but no promises. Anyway, I hope you had a fun time here, and I wish you good tidings!

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Sad to hear that, it really is. There aren't too many people left here who can appreciate a deep and profound conversation, at least not on the forums. But, well, if it doesn't work for you then I guess it just doesn't.

Until we meet again, then.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Yeah, I hope I see you around soon. I've enjoyed talking to you - it's probably one of the things that I'll miss the most about the site if worst comes to the worst, but hopefully we'll cross paths somehow.

3

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Wow, you're really good at ranting. I totally enjoyed the read, it's well written too. I agree with most things you wrote. A loss for the fighunter community, I'd say.
Anyways, I wish you the best for the future.

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Haha, it was intended as self-satire. I really don't enjoy being cheesy or emotional, so I found it absolutely hilarious how I could essentially explain my position perfectly with a High School Musical song.

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

I don't know you very well (more o the point you don't know me but I've seen a lot of your posts), but I had to comment here. I just want to say that your posts were some of the only ones on this site that I couldn't bring myself to disagree with. It wasn't that I necessarily adored them, but I simply loved the way you laid your information out.

From an pretty unknown person: I hope you go and do something. In a good way (or chaotic way or lawful way or evil way. Whatever floats your boat)

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

I imagine it must have been at least slightly uncomfortable for you to write this about someone with whom you've almost never interacted, which I highly appreciate. I'm extremely glad that my posts could have given anybody such a reaction - I certainly didn't expect it upon writing them. In fact, this made me very happy to read.

I'll try my best to do something. I really appreciate this sentiment. So thanks for taking the time to comment.

3

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Welp, this has made me wonder whether I'm one of those "12 year-olds", but I don't think I'm smart enough to be able to make any witty comments, and I did bad in physics, so I wouldn't expect any particle theories to be flying out of my mouth. Or fingers.

Whatever. So long, have fun. Finally, please don't pull off a Shadowknight, if you know what I mean.

2

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

But no, really, I'm not the sort of guy who would write something like this if I wasn't of absolute certainty, as cold as that must come across in this context. I'm not angry, nor depressed, nor in need of attention.

But I appreciate the introspection, and I laughed at the physics line. So yay!

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

I think I undertand your decision, after reading your post (at least the reason you gave). Maybe I'll go and see your profiles on twitter and deviantART... I liked the few times I discussed with you (I recall there was at least one time :D). Also as I'm quite young, and maybe sometimes annoying because I'm off topic ,I hope I'm not one of those people that drove you off... That would be awful. However I do not recall dropping my knowledge randomly just to show it (I hope I didn't D:)

And goodbye I guess...

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Au revoir, mon frere. I can't say I see eye-to-eye with you on your reasoning (surprise surprise :P) for departure, but perhaps that's just naivete on my part. Either way, we'll miss you and I hope to see you around here again sometime in the future!

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Well, I didn't know you all that much but... I've been really fearing that I might be perpetually unintelligent (because I just can't solve problems due to my lack of ability to devise problem solving methods, and because I just can't seem to learn some things - they never quite *click* no matter how hard I try (often because I just don't understand the principle behind that thing because I just feel uncomfortable with that thing in my head or something), and because I'm almost failing some of my courses, and because I have no talents whatsoever and every attempt I've had to gain talents ended in laziness and self-loathing and "I don't feel like I can ever learn more"), and when others flaunt their intelligence, I really do feel inadequate for not knowing quantum physics, or multi-variable calculus, or anything complex (though actually, I don't see people do that all that often here... must be just how I perceive things... because honestly, most of the time I really do feel that they actually do know what they're saying... and I really feel horrible for not knowing enough, yet I can never motivate myself to learn more and even if I did, I'd get all frustrated over not understanding the thing... )

If I did actually know anything like that, however, I'd probably end up showing it off as well, just because I don't want to perceive myself as inferior to others... I'm just so insecure, even if I were actually good... yes, I probably need to be more secure in my perception of my abilities, and improve my abilities, so I wouldn't have to go all arrogantly pseudo-intellectual if I actually do manage to learn a lot... But other than that, I'm sorry to see you leave... All the bragging must have really ruined you, I guess... If you want to contact me, I've posted my Skype username on the Fig-Skype thread...

(Also, nice Brave New World reference.)

(And... you seem strangely sanguine about all this... I would have expected you to go out in a flaming rage much like some other members did... but at least you're leaving nicely... maybe you're trying to do something different with your goodbye compared to what other people did? Or at least, avoiding destructive chaos...)

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Honestly, I don't feel contemptuous towards the community at all. It's just that there are some little things that make the concept of chatting here slightly unsavoury, the one mentioned being one of the most regularly observed.

I think it's very good that you're willing to admit that you're insecure. I don't think that you seem at all unintelligent, but I do think that you are your own worst enemy. There probably hasn't been a worry invented that you've not had yet. Heh.

I'm not in any position to give advice, but if you ever do need a vent or a reassurance, don't hesitate to find me!

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Sad to see a good member go, but if you can't stay here anymore then that's the way it has to be.
Thanks for the interesting threads, conversations on the chat and the few times we ganged up on a few christians. :P

Kind of makes me wonder if I'm not one of these people you dislike though... I do have a tendency to use 'difficult' words (hah, ego boost!) in chat if I think it fits the conversation or situation.

1

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Like breadandbutter, I have begun to wonder if I might be one of the 12 year olds mentioned. This makes me somewhat worried. But ahem. You were one of the first people I met on the site, and you were always good with conversations. You were one of the Figgies that never went overboard when in an argument and you always seemed like a good person to me.

I'm sad to see you go, I wish I had known you better. I hope that your life is good and everything. Goodbye.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Yep. Not dead, just busy. And I've been accepted into that high school I probably haven't talked about. And other stuff like getting all the achievements in ME2. Lots of things. Anything interesting happen your end recently? Bye.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Reading it my self for the fifth time or so, it feels somewhat apologetic, yet grown up. I also like the fact that it doesn't really give away who Tokiwa97 IS, too. It just smoothly avoids that. Very nice.

Just been looking back at ME2 as well, and I think Legion, when upgraded, does insane amounts of damage with his widow. Imp. Geth S Boost works very well since he refreshes it every chance he gets, add geth assassin, fully upgraded snipers, and bring Garrus to use his Squad AP Ammo and he can finish off just about everything. Once saw him destroy Harbinger's armour bar in one hit, as an example (without AP ammo).

And I've been playing Deliverance today. After selecting a female character for a change, I feel oddly protective of her, so it's nice to see those hormones are working.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Just beat ME2 on Insanity. Still finding it a little hard to believe. There were a couple of times when I felt like giving up (Collector Ship Opening Battle), but after reviewing my surroundings, weapons and choice of teammates, I could always find ways around (with upgrades) and finally managed to absolutely positively kill every *profanity* in sight. Never seen anything as sweet as watching that base blow up and giving the Illusive Man a couple more gray hairs.

Now that I've figured out a way of getting DLC, I'm thinking of getting Liara and Kasumi. Not sure which I should get first, so an opinion would be nice.

Anyway, how are things going your end? I have to write a four-hundred character "Reason why I want to go to high school" paper, so I need to get around to it soon.

Hey! I've been very busy lately - life calls. That's why I haven't been responding as actively as I used to.

Things are good for me. In terms of enjoyment, the Shadow Broker DLC will prove far more entertaining. Kasumi is nice and all but she doesn't really add anything new, and she's relegated to a backseat role in the third game so you won't gain much from completing her bonus stuff.

I had a few Tomb Raider games. I don't really like them, to be honest. They've never quite seemed polished enough for me. The new game looks to be the exception but it's a series that has lost my loyalty, m'fraid.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Right... I read about LOTSB and it does look good. Shame about not being to get liara for the rest of the game though. Hmm... I wonder if Dawnguard is still on sale? Those crossbows do look nice...

And Tomb Raider. I have pocket money saved up, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to find the time. Junior High School was tough enough. The homework has always been the worst part and I'm sure there'll be more than possible to cope with. As ever.

Lots of kids (ha ha, they're the same age as me) in my class have after school activities as well! Don't know how the heck they do it.

Well, I'll think about buying Tomb Raider. Thank you for the advice, and it was nice chatting to you. Bye for now.

PS: Sorry if this message is late. That paper I have to write has been praying on my mind.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Wooo.... six days to go before the high school interview, and a couple more for the tests. Scary. I think I'll take my paper bag off now.

With my vision restored (think of the previous bit as being done through keyboard mastery), I have to look at those beard ads again. Drat.

As these things usually go, I'll ask how you've been doing, more worrying, talk about starting a new game of MARDEK (not the best time to, I admit), playing ME2 on insanity (that praetorian is intimidating), and even more worrying. Done.

Hope you're okay, bye for now.

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Gods, I'm back. Didn't think I would return to this site after what happened last time. "Give me your credit card and bank account number so I can get to know you better." I said to 'em. And the rest. It seemed quite funny at the time, but wasn't worth it.

Anyway, how have you been? Anything interesting happen while I was gone? I noticed a different game from Miasmon on the front blog page, so has he scraped it? Put it in limbo?

Well, this mild sociopath has some catching up (and apologising) to do. Hope you're not getting those disgusting bearded 6-doller shirt ads popping up! (I pray to whatever gods will listen that it won't happen to you.)

0

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11

Quick question, where did you find your profile picture? (and what is it) It sorta looks like something out of a violent but well animated video game. At first I assumed it was a wrestler, but then, upon closer inspection, the markings on the man's face looked more like tattoos rather than a mask. (Wow, I didn't know tattoo was spelled that way!)

2

♥

Notice: Undefined index: FID in /home4/yalort/public_html/charcoal/code/common.php on line 11